JP2004118560A - Image processing method and apparatus, as well as program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply image processing in which the tastes of a user who has acquired image data are reflected to the image data acquired by a portable telephone with a camera. <P>SOLUTION: Image data S0 acquired by imaging with a portable telephone 1 with a camera are transmitted together with user information to an image server 2. In the image server 2, taste information F0 indicating the tastes of a user in image processing is read from a database DB1 based on the user information. Whereas, an image processing parameter P0 for the image processing is calculated based on the image data S0, and the image processing parameter P0 is corrected based on the taste information F0, so that a corrected image processing parameter P1 can be obtained, and the image processing is applied to the image data S0 based on the parameter P1, so that processed image data S1 can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus for performing image processing on image data to obtain processed image data, and a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Although there is a remarkable spread of mobile phones, in recent years, mobile phones with cameras having photographing means for acquiring image data by photographing are becoming popular (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 6-233020 and 9-322114). 10-150523, JP-A 2000-253290, etc.). By using such a camera-equipped mobile phone, the user's favorite image data acquired by photographing can be set on the standby screen of the mobile phone. In addition, since it is possible to attach the image data acquired by shooting to an e-mail and send it to a friend, when it becomes necessary to cancel the appointment or when it is likely to be late at the meeting time, It is convenient for communication with friends because it is possible to inform a friend of his / her current situation, such as taking a picture of his / her disappointing expression and sending it to a friend.
[0003]
In addition, the function of the camera-equipped mobile phone has been improved, and it has become possible to acquire image data having a size sufficient for print output in the camera-equipped mobile phone.
[0004]
On the other hand, image data acquired by a camera-equipped mobile phone is subjected to various image processes to obtain processed image data, print out the image data, or upload it onto a network. . As a result, the user can acquire a high-quality image, acquire a print, view an image on a network, and the like, so that the use form of image data by communication can be diversified.
[0005]
The use of the image data acquired in such a camera-equipped mobile phone is performed by transmitting the image data from the camera-equipped mobile phone that captured the image data to an image server that manages the storage of the image data. The image is processed, and an e-mail with a URL indicating the storage location of the image data is generated, and the e-mail is sent to a terminal device such as a mobile phone, a personal computer or a PDA, and a print output of the image data. The image data is transmitted to a lab or the like, and image data is downloaded with reference to a URL from a mobile phone, a terminal device, or a lab that has received an e-mail.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, image processing on image data is performed by calculating image processing parameters for image processing based on the image data and based on the image processing parameters. However, since the image processing parameter calculated in this way is to perform image processing on the image data so as to obtain an image having a predetermined image quality, for example, a tone level for which the skin color is desired to be reddish. It is not possible to reflect the preference of the user who has acquired the image data, such as wanting to harden the image or reducing the brightness, in the image processing.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to perform image processing that reflects user preferences on image data.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image processing method according to the present invention is an image processing method for performing image processing on image data to obtain processed image data.
Obtaining user information identifying the user who requested the image processing;
Calculating image processing parameters for the image processing based on the image data;
With reference to a database storing preference information representing preferences for each user for the image processing, the corresponding preference information corresponding to the acquired user information is acquired,
Correcting the image processing parameter based on the corresponding preference information to obtain a corrected image processing parameter;
The processed image data is obtained by performing the image processing on the image data based on the corrected image processing parameter.
[0009]
In the image processing method according to the present invention, the preference information may be acquired by analyzing a corrected standard image reflecting the user's preference with respect to the standard image serving as a reference for image processing.
[0010]
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that performs image processing on image data to obtain processed image data.
User information acquisition means for acquiring user information for identifying the user who requested the image processing;
Parameter calculating means for calculating image processing parameters for the image processing based on the image data;
The corresponding preference information corresponding to the acquired user information is read with reference to a database storing preference information representing preference for each user regarding the image processing, and the image processing parameters are corrected based on the corresponding preference information. Parameter correction means for acquiring corrected image processing parameters
And image processing means for performing the image processing on the image data based on the corrected image processing parameter to obtain the processed image data.
[0011]
In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the preference information acquisition unit analyzes the corrected standard image reflecting the user preference with respect to the standard image serving as a reference for image processing, and acquires the preference information. It is good.
[0012]
The image processing method according to the present invention may be provided as a program for causing a computer to execute the image processing method.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, user information that identifies a user who has requested image processing is acquired, and a database that stores preference information that represents preferences for each user regarding image processing is referenced to correspond to the acquired user information. Preference information is acquired. On the other hand, an image processing parameter for image processing is calculated based on the image data, and the corrected image processing parameter is acquired by correcting the image processing parameter based on the acquired preference information. Therefore, by performing image processing on the image data based on the corrected image processing parameter, processed image data that can reproduce an image reflecting the preference of the user who requested the image processing can be obtained.
[0014]
Further, by analyzing the corrected standard image reflecting the user's preference for the standard image, the user's preference information can be easily obtained.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system including an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing system according to the present embodiment is configured to transfer data between a camera-equipped mobile phone 1 and an image server 2 that performs image processing on image data S0 acquired by the camera-equipped mobile phone 1. It is an exchange.
[0016]
The camera-equipped mobile phone 1 stores various information such as the camera 11 that acquires the image data S0 by photographing, the communication unit 12 that transmits and receives the image data S0 through communication via the mobile phone communication network, and the image data S0. A memory 13, a liquid crystal monitor 14 for performing various displays such as images and telephone numbers, a controller 15 for controlling the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, and an image processing means 16 for performing image processing on the image data S0. Prepare.
[0017]
Note that shooting operations by the camera 11, an instruction to transmit / receive the image data S0, an instruction for image processing, and the like are performed by an input unit 17 including a plurality of buttons provided on the camera-equipped mobile phone 1.
[0018]
Further, the image processing means 16 can perform image processing on the image data S0 and standard image data N0 to be described later according to a user instruction from the input means 17.
[0019]
As a result, the user of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 captures the image using the camera 11 to acquire the image data S0, displays the acquired image data S0 on the liquid crystal monitor 14 and sets it as a standby screen. Data S0 can be transmitted to the image server 2 for image processing, or the acquired image data S0 can be transmitted to the friend's camera-equipped mobile phone 1 via the image server 2.
[0020]
The image server 2 includes a communication unit 21 that transmits and receives various kinds of information such as the image data S0 via a mobile phone communication network, and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the image data S0 to obtain processed image data S1. 22, preference analysis means 23 for obtaining preference information F0 by analyzing the preference of the image processing of the user who requested the image processing of the image data S0 as described later, and the image processing parameter P0 calculated as described later. A parameter correction unit 24 that corrects to obtain a corrected image processing parameter P1, a storage unit 25 that stores a database DB1 that stores preference information F0 for a plurality of users, and a controller 26 that controls the image server 2 are provided.
[0021]
Based on the image data S0, the image processing unit 22 performs image processing parameters for image processing to be performed on the image data S0, such as density correction processing, white balance adjustment processing, gradation conversion processing, color correction processing, and sharpness processing. A parameter calculation unit 22A for calculating P0 and a setup unit 22B for performing image processing on the image data S0 to obtain processed image data S1 are provided. Note that the image processing means 22 can perform higher-level processing than the image processing means 16 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 to improve the quality of the image represented by the processed image data S1.
[0022]
The preference analysis unit 23 analyzes the user's preference based on the corrected standard image obtained by causing the user of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 to correct the standard image serving as a reference for image processing, and obtains preference information F0. Here, the standard image includes a predetermined chart, a reference skin color, and the like, and the image server 2 transmits standard image data N0 representing the standard image to the mobile phone 1 with a camera.
[0023]
On the other hand, the standard image data N0 received by the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14, and image processing reflecting the user's preference is performed by the image processing unit 16 according to an instruction from the input unit 17 by the user. The correction standard image data N1 is obtained by applying to the data N0. The corrected standard image data N1 is transmitted to the image server 2. The corrected standard image data N1 reflects the user's preference for image processing, for example, the skin color is reddish, the gradation is hardened, and the density is lowered.
[0024]
The preference analysis unit 23 analyzes the user's preference based on the corrected standard image data N1, and obtains preference information F0. The preference information F0 includes parameters for reflecting the user's preference to the image processing parameter P0, for example, the skin color is reddish, the gradation is hardened, and the density is lowered.
[0025]
The preference information F0 is stored in the database DB1 for each user and stored in the storage unit 25. Note that the preference information F0 for each user is read based on user information transmitted from the user when requesting image processing for the image data S0. Specifically, the phone number of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, the user number registered in advance by the user, the user name, and the like are used as the user information. In the present embodiment, the telephone number of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is used as user information.
[0026]
The preference information F0 based on the corrected standard image data N1 is acquired when the user of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 requests the image server 2 to perform image processing of the image data S0 for the first time. Further, the preference information F0 may be appropriately updated according to a user request, not limited to the first time.
[0027]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing performed in the present embodiment. First, in the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, shooting is performed using the camera 11, and image data S0 is acquired (step S1). The acquired image data S0 is transmitted to the image server 2 by the communication means 12 (step S2). At this time, the telephone number of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 is also transmitted to the image server 2 as user information.
[0028]
The transmitted image data S0 is received by the communication means 21 of the image server 2 (step S3). Then, based on the telephone number transmitted together with the image data S0, it is determined whether or not the request for image processing of the user who transmitted the image data S0 is the first time (step S4). If step S4 is affirmed, the standard image data N0 is transmitted to the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 by the communication means 21 for the user's preference analysis (step S5). If step S4 is negative, it is assumed that preference information F0 representing the user's preference is already stored in the database DB1, and the process proceeds to step S13.
[0029]
The transmitted standard image data N0 is received by the communication means 12 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 (step S6). The standard image data N0 is subjected to image processing that reflects user preferences (step S7), and corrected standard image data N1 is obtained. This image processing is performed on the standard image data N0 when the standard image data N0 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 and the user instructs the image processing from the input means 17. The corrected standard image data N1 is transmitted to the image server 2 by the communication means 12 (step S8).
[0030]
The transmitted corrected standard image data N1 is received by the communication means 21 of the image server 2 (step S9). Then, the preference analysis means 23 analyzes the user's preference based on the corrected standard image data N1 (step S10), and obtains preference information F0 (step S11). The preference information F0 is stored in the database DB1 stored in the storage unit 25 (step S12).
[0031]
In step S13, the parameter calculation means 22A calculates the image processing parameter P0 based on the received image data S0 (step S13). Next, based on the telephone number transmitted together with the image data S0, the preference information F0 of the user who requested the image processing is read from the database DB1 (step S14). Then, the image processing parameter P0 is corrected by the read preference information F0, and the corrected image processing parameter P1 is obtained (step S15).
[0032]
Next, in the setup unit 22B, the image data S0 is subjected to image processing based on the corrected image processing parameter P1, and processed image data S1 is obtained (step S16). The processed image data S1 is transmitted to the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 by the communication means 21 (step S17).
[0033]
The transmitted processed image data S1 is received by the communication means 12 of the camera-equipped mobile phone 1 (step S18), stored in the memory 13 (step S19), and further displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 14 (step S20). finish.
[0034]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user information specifying the user who requested the image processing to the image server 2 is acquired, and the database DB1 in which the preference information F0 representing the preference for each user regarding the image processing is stored. The preference information F0 corresponding to the acquired user information is obtained, and based on this, the image processing parameter P0 for performing image processing on the image data S0 is corrected to obtain the corrected image processing parameter P1, and the corrected image processing is performed. Since the image processing is performed on the image data S0 based on the parameter P1, the image represented by the processed image data S1 can reflect the preference of the user who requested the image processing.
[0035]
Further, the standard image data N0 is transmitted to the camera-equipped mobile phone 1, and the standard image data N0 is subjected to image processing reflecting the user's preference to obtain the corrected standard image data N1, and the corrected standard image data N1 is obtained. Since the preference information F0 information representing the user's preference is obtained based on the user information, the preference information F0 for each user can be easily obtained.
[0036]
In the above embodiment, the preference information F0 is obtained by analyzing the user's preference based on the corrected standard image data N1 obtained by correcting the standard image data N0 by the user. The preference information may be inquired, and the preference information F0 may be created based on the answer and stored in the database DB1. For example, the user inquires in the form of a questionnaire whether the user prefers a bright image or a dark image, or prefers a hard image or a soft image, and the operator of the image server 2 is based on the answer. Preference information F0 representing preference may be created. In this case, a bright image, a dark image, or a hard image and a soft image are actually presented to the user, and the user is instructed which image is preferred, thereby obtaining an answer about the user's preference. You may do it.
[0037]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the image is displayed on the mobile telephone 1 with a camera, this invention is applicable when displaying an image in various portable terminal devices, such as PDA.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed in the present embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone with camera 2 Image server 11 Camera 12, 21 Communication means 13 Memory 14 Liquid crystal monitor 15, 26 Controller 16, 22 Image processing means 17 Input means 22A Parameter calculation means 22B Setup means 23 Preference analysis means 24 Parameter correction means 25 Storage means

Claims (6)

In an image processing method for performing image processing on image data to obtain processed image data,
Obtaining user information identifying the user who requested the image processing;
Calculating image processing parameters for the image processing based on the image data;
With reference to a database storing preference information representing preferences for each user for the image processing, corresponding preference information corresponding to the acquired user information is read out,
Correcting the image processing parameter based on the corresponding preference information to obtain a corrected image processing parameter;
An image processing method comprising: performing the image processing on the image data based on the corrected image processing parameter to obtain the processed image data. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the preference information is obtained by analyzing a corrected standard image reflecting the user's preference with respect to a standard image serving as a reference for image processing. In an image processing apparatus that performs image processing on image data to obtain processed image data,
User information acquisition means for acquiring user information for identifying the user who requested the image processing;
Parameter calculating means for calculating image processing parameters for the image processing based on the image data;
The corresponding preference information corresponding to the acquired user information is read with reference to a database storing preference information representing the preference for each user regarding the image processing, and the image processing parameters are corrected based on the corresponding preference information. Parameter correction means for acquiring corrected image processing parameters
An image processing apparatus comprising: image processing means for performing the image processing on the image data based on the corrected image processing parameter to obtain the processed image data. 4. The preference information acquisition unit is a unit that analyzes the corrected standard image reflecting the user's preference with respect to a standard image serving as a reference for image processing, and acquires the preference information. Image processing apparatus. In a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method for performing image processing on image data to obtain processed image data,
A procedure for acquiring user information for identifying a user who has requested the image processing;
A procedure for calculating image processing parameters for the image processing based on the image data;
A procedure for reading corresponding preference information corresponding to the acquired user information with reference to a database storing preference information representing preference for each user regarding the image processing;
A procedure for correcting the image processing parameter based on the corresponding preference information to obtain a corrected image processing parameter;
A program for obtaining the processed image data by performing the image processing on the image data based on the corrected image processing parameter. The program according to claim 5, wherein the procedure for obtaining the preference information is a procedure for obtaining the preference information by analyzing a corrected standard image reflecting the user's preference with respect to a standard image serving as a reference for image processing.

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